Choosing a new hunting rifle can be daunting with the dozens of options. However, for most general purpose hunting scenarios, a bolt action rifle is a great option due to ruggedness and accuracy. This article will serve as a buyers guide, summarizing the pros and cons of some of the popular budget bolt action hunting rifles that are available on the market today.
Remington 783
The first of the popular budget hunting rifles on the market is the Remington 783. In fact, Remington started the current budget rifle craze with their Remington 770. However, I would not recommend the Remington 783 today for a number of reasons.
First of all, my experiences with the 783 were not impressive. The rifle had a finicky plastic magazine that would fit more rounds than it would reliably feed. The ejection port was small and the accuracy was mediocre at best, around 1.75 inches at 100 yards. The trigger wasn’t horrid but was also nothing to write home about. Couple that with Remington’s history of poor finishes of late and uncertainty surrounding customer service following the change of ownership and I would steer clear of the Remington 783.
Mossberg Patriot
Next, we take a look at the Mossberg Patriot. Candidly, of the four budget bolt action rifles discussed it is the only one that I do not have hands on experience shooting. However, handling one they certainly are handsome rifles, and to my eyes the best looking of the crew. The bolt fluting and wood stock are premium touches rarely found on rifles in this price range.
Reviews of the Patriot seem to have mixed results in the accuracy department. Every company occasionally builds a lemon, but if long range precision is the goal consumers might be better looking elsewhere. The results of Rifle Shooter Magazine’s accuracy testing are in line with what I would expect.
Savage Axis II
Coming in the second place slot is the Savage Axis. Savage has made affordable hunting rifles for a long time and their budget rifle is no exception. The Axis comes with Savage’s AccuTrigger, which is an excellent user adjustable trigger found on many of their higher dollar rifles. Also, these rifles shoot much better than they ought to given the price. In my experience with a handful of these rifles, all have provided sub-MOA accuracy with little fuss.
That said, there are still a few drawbacks that come with the price range. The action is quite clunky, and depending on your rifle you may need to fiddle with the magazine set up to ensure reliable feeding. The stock is injection molded plastic, which isn’t neccesarily a drawback but is standard in the budget price range. Still, the Axis is accurate and easy to shoot and is a great choice in this price range.
Ruger American
Finally, the top pick for a budget hunting rifle is the Ruger American. The Ruger has a tang mounted safety, low bolt lift, and solid trigger, combining for good ergonomics. The American’s also tend to be quite accurate and many shoot sub-MOA if the shooter is willing to try a few different ammo types or work up a handload for them.
Another benefit is Ruger’s excellent customer service. I fell and broke the stock of a Ruger American and despite it not being on warranty Ruger replaced the stock quickly and free of charge. The one drawback on the Ruger is the rotary magazines have a tendency to wear out, especially with the long action models. In spite of this, the American is a solid rifle at a bare bones price.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, hunter’s are living in an age where one doesn’t need to spend a ton of money to get out hunting. While all of the rifles on the list can kill game, the consistent accuracy and good triggers on the Savage Axis and Ruger American put them a step above the rest in this price range. Whether it’s your first rifle or your fiftieth consumers are getting an unprecedented value from the market’s budget bolt action offerings.